What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

Columbia has the most affordable homes ($196k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hooksett	Columbia
People
Population	15,057Highest	683Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-12.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH	51.8±10.1Highest 20% above NH
	Columbia and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2%	17.4%±5.2 NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	29.9%±8.3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	7%±3.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Hooksett and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH	$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average	$196,400±$29kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH	$792±$333Lowest 47% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,554Highest about the NH average	$2,009Lowest 70% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2%	9.1%±95.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hooksett and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8%	11.2%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hooksett and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#30 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Hooksett School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.